Tara Nolan wants to start a revolution. She wants to rouse a riot in gardens — by creating raised beds.

The seed for her notion of rebellion was planted years ago when she took breaks from her studies to “go out and dig in the dirt.”

Her idea grew to a desire that everyone could garden, no matter the space available or their physical abilities.

“My first home had a yard where I grew edibles in the back. I split seed packets with my sister who grew hers on a balcony. Her plants thrived more because they had more sun and no pests. That got me into it.”

“Raised Bed Revolution features several DIY projects with step-by-step photography, tons of inspirational images from generous gardeners and gardening companies, and lots of helpful tips on building and planting,” she said. “Don’t worry if you have a black thumb, gardening is a constant learning process.”

Nolan said anyone can do raised bed gardening if they have a small space that receives six to eight hours of sun.

“You can use a balcony, patio — you just need soil, plants and materials. It reaches a broad variety of gardeners. It enables gardening for those with physical and mental challenges to discover the joy of gardening.

“On the flip side, millennials have increasingly small spaces. But they are opening up to gardening because they want to know where their food comes from. They’re interested in sustainability.”

Paul Zammit, director of horticulture at Toronto Botanical Garden, said, “It (raised bed gardening) brings the garden to you. It brings the garden to your outdoor living space. That combines two trends — edible gardening and outdoor living. It’s an opportunity to grow where you did not think you could.”

It is also an opportunity for those who think they can’t garden.

“It appeals to different ages, across the spectrum,” said Nolan. For those who have trouble bending, a raised bed offers easy access. Raised beds can be customized for any height, to allow wheelchairs, and to be portable to follow the sun.

Jacqueline Hering, of Parkway Gardens, said there are three good reasons to do raised beds. “Clay soil is one of the main reasons. And as generations are older, they don’t want to bend over. If you like invasive plants, raised beds contain them and prevent them from taking over.”

Water conservation is easier and for yards with poor drainage, raised beds are a quick solution.

Some pests can’t leap into a raised container.

Zammit cautions to successfully keep out groundhogs, the bed needs to be at least two and one-half feet high.

He also said be sure to place your containers where animals can’t climb and jump into them.

Hering said by using good soil, you’re producing “plants that are lusher, sweeter and more desirable for critters.” So that can be a disadvantage.

“This is a niche trend,” said Erik Jacobsen, owner of Parkway Gardens. “The nice thing about it is you can do it on a small scale in a couple of feet or go crazy and have a big garden.”

Getting started

Nolan’s book contains building instructions and other container ideas, including a salad table fashioned from an old dining table and a self-irrigating planter. Hering said you can make a simple raised bed with railway ties.

Choose location first — one that receives six to eight hours of sun daily. On a balcony, weighted options for containers and short plants are best. Don’t forget to check your building’s policy.

“Start small,” said Nolan. “It’s easy to be over-ambitious. Remember you have to plant and care all summer. You can’t just leave it and go.”

For those whose carpenter skills are lacking, there are kits ready to assemble.

“You can also upscale things such as a wash basin. Drill holes and add legs,” said Nolan. In her book, she discusses size, height and types of materials, as well as location options such as rooftops, vertical gardening in small spaces and using automatic watering systems.

Dishing the dirt

“Use the best quality soil you can afford,” said Nolan. “Use triple mix and top dress it with organic compost. Use more budget-friendly soil to fill a lot of containers or a large bed.”

“The volume of soil needs to be generous to support the root system and to support the plant material,” said Zammit. “People get creative with containers but if there is minimal soil, it dries out too quickly. The more soil the better and if you connect with the soil (a bottomless raised bed sits on soil) it’s even better.”

He experimented with containers at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Planting the same peppers at the same time and giving them the same care, the ones in metal containers matured more quickly than those in cedar. “I believe it was because of the heat,” said Zammit. “When the soil heats up earlier, the plant matures earlier.”

Using a layer of landscape fabric prevents weeds.

Choosing plants

“Plant what is on your grocery list. It’s a waste if you don’t eat what you grow,” advises Nolan. “But pick something new to you, such as cucamelons or Mexican melons or lemon cucumbers. Plant something you want to preserve and herbs for tea, such as chamomile, mint and spearmint. They are best grown in pots because they are voracious spreaders. Plant basil for pesto or to freeze in cubes — things you cook with through the season. Mix edibles and ornamentals. Zinnia attract bees and butterflies and hummingbirds. They’ll pollinate your vegetables and boost your yield. Some flowers also attract parasitic insects so there are mutual benefits.”

She also plants sunflowers, nasturtiums, and has used raised beds for cutting gardens.

Jacobsen chose unusual plants for Parkway’s alpine raised bed. “They thrive in poorer soil and high drainage.” One of his favourites is cacti native to Pelee Island. It survives the winter by shriveling and drying up, then fluffing up with moisture once spring arrives. Other plants include dwarf blue Arizona fir and mugo pine, sandwort, geranium ballerina and elfin and woolly thyme.

Zammit based his recommendations on the most successful crops at the Toronto Botanical Gardens.

“We have also grown fingerling potatoes and peas. We add edible blossoms such as nasturtiums and marigolds to attract pollinators and ensure fruit set.”

Caring for the beds

Check the containers regularly for water. “Depending on the weather, you may have to water more often,” said Hering. She recommends using fertilizer. “A slow-release is good. You can sprinkle it on top and every time you water it gets some fertilizer.”

“You can have multi-crops. Lettuce, radish, kale and beets first,” said Zammit. “Pull them out and plant tomatoes and spinach. Then you can plant lettuce again.”